Early Testing of Serum Ferritin Facilitates Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Diagnosis in Children.

Authors

Hemant S Agarwal
John F Kuttesch

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-1-2019

Abstract

The clinical and laboratory features of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) are nonspecific that makes the definitive diagnosis of HLH very challenging. The disease is almost universally fatal in the absence of early recognition and appropriate therapy. Elevated serum ferritin level is one of the diagnostic markers of HLH disease. We report the value of testing serum ferritin level early in the disease process in 3 pediatric patients who presented with persistent fever and sepsis-like features. Detection of elevated serum ferritin levels facilitated further testing to confirm the diagnosis of HLH and initiate early therapy with good outcomes.

Publication Title

Journal of pediatric hematology/oncology : official journal of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

ISSN

1536-3678

Volume

41

Issue

7

First Page

478

Last Page

478

DOI

10.1097/MPH.0000000000001312

Recommended Citation

Agarwal, Hemant S and John F Kuttesch. "Early Testing of Serum Ferritin Facilitates Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Diagnosis in Children.." Journal of pediatric hematology/oncology : official journal of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology , 7 (2019): 478-478. doi:10.1097/MPH.0000000000001312.